Cubs Win Third Straight Over Rays Behind Happ's 3-HR Performance

Ian Happ led the Chicago Cubs to a 6-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays with a standout performance, going 3-for-4 including a home run, double, and two RBIs. The Cubs rallied from an early 3-0 deficit, tying the game in the second inning and taking the lead by the third, with key contributions from Nico Hoerner and Moisés Ballesteros, who hit a tiebreaking triple. Starting pitcher Matthew Boyd earned his first win since August 19 by allowing four runs over five innings and recording a major league-best 11th pickoff of the season. The Rays' Christopher Morel hit a three-run homer in the first inning, his first against his former team after being traded from the Cubs in July 2024, but Tampa Bay’s offense stalled after the fourth inning. Chicago's bullpen, including Porter Hodge, Drew Pomeranz, Brad Keller, and Andrew Kittredge, shut down the Rays over the final innings, with Kittredge securing his fourth save in five chances. This win marked the Cubs' third consecutive victory, improving their record to 84-63 and maintaining their position as NL wildcard leaders, while the Rays fell to 72-75 amid a six-loss stretch in seven games.